Chapter 408

Chapter 408: The True World-Destroying Demon

“Surprised?”

The visitor spoke with a light chuckle, closing the door behind him.

Jigui Wu, inhabiting the Strategist’s body, wore a grim expression. He said coldly, “Mu Shaoyang.”

Mu Shaoyang, the Seventh Prince smiled. “It’s me. From the beginning, I knew you wouldn’t die. I know you too well. You attached yourself to me and patiently guided the development of my physique just the way you wanted. Your patience truly matches that of a world-destroying demon. That’s why, even when I supposedly killed you at the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, I didn’t believe you were truly gone. And when I used Zhang Yang’s power to drive you out and finish you off, I still didn’t think you were dead.”

Jigui Wu responded coldly, “So it turns out you’re the one who knows me best.”

The Seventh Prince chuckled. “Of course. Together, we make a complete world-destroying demon.”

Jigui Wu’s gaze turned icy.

The Seventh Prince sighed. “World-destroying demon, what a ridiculous title. Who would’ve thought that I, the leader of the Demon Slayer Team, would turn out to be one? A world-destroying demon, created because of you. I’m the one who truly annihilates all beings in this vast world. As for Zhang Yang, the so-called world-destroying demon, he’s just a product of the Eternal Night’s lifeless vision. Tsk tsk… how fascinating. This world never ceases to surprise, does it?”

“Indeed, it is surprising,” Jigui Wu said coldly. “You know my power, and yet you waste time talking.”

The Seventh Prince sneered. “If it were Zhang Yang, I’d kill him without hesitation. But you? Heh… I used to fear you. Now, in my eyes, you’re no threat at all.”

“Is that so?”

Jigui Wu’s voice shifted as a terrifying aura began to form around him.

Smack!

The Seventh Prince raised his hand and delivered a sharp slap, instantly shattering the rising aura.

Jigui Wu stood stunned by the blow.

“Don’t play games with me. I know everything about you,” the Seventh Prince said with a cold smile. “You thought your fake death only left me with a few memories? In truth, it allowed me to understand you on a far deeper level. When Zhang Yang’s overwhelming power in the Realm of Thunder shattered your Remnant Soul, I realized your so-called ‘immortal soul’ was far from true immortality. It’s not that you’re weak, but descending into this vast world drained your foundation. You survived with only a sliver of soul, meaning you’re incredibly fragile and must possess a body to endure. At this point, you’re perfectly fused with this one. If I destroy it, you’ll be gone for good.”

Jigui Wu finally lost his composure. His voice trembled with surprise. “You even know that?”

“Of course. Not only do I know, I’ve trained a secret technique—specifically for you,” the Seventh Prince replied.

“What secret technique?” Jigui Wu demanded.

The Seventh Prince suddenly stepped forward and pressed a finger to Jigui Wu’s forehead. A strand of eerie light surged from his fingertip, piercing into Jigui Wu’s brow. Jigui Wu screamed in agony, though no sound escaped.

His body trembled violently, his face contorted in pain.

Dark, ethereal strands of light were drawn out from deep within Jigui Wu’s body.

The Seventh Prince whispered, “Soul Capture… Soul Refinement… Soul Melting… Soul Fusion.”

Jigui Wu struggled to lift his head. His eyes brimmed with pain and disbelief as he stared at the Seventh Prince. He had never imagined that the boy he once possessed since childhood could hide such chilling cunning.

Soul Capture to extract the soul.

Soul Refinement to break it down.

Soul Melting to fuse it.

Soul Fusion to completely merge it.

The result: the Seventh Prince would not only retain his own talents and potential but also gain Jigui Wu’s abilities, along with the profound mysteries of the immortal path. He would ascend to unprecedented power.

Jigui Wu would become nothing more than a stepping stone.

After a moment, the Seventh Prince withdrew his finger.

The body of the Black Cloaked Strategist slowly collapsed to the ground.

The Seventh Prince let out a satisfied groan, clearly sensing the changes within himself. With just a short period of secluded cultivation, he would absorb all of Jigui Wu’s knowledge and power, emerging as something entirely new. He would truly become… a world-destroying demon.

By annihilating all living beings, he would carve a path to his own greatness.

He was deeply intrigued by Jigui Wu’s original purpose, what had driven him to descend into this world at such a great cost.

But his own ambition soared even higher. He now sought a supreme, unparalleled destiny.

After a long breath, he opened his eyes and glanced at the body on the ground. With a faint smile, he drew the blood-red God-slaying Sword.

Whoosh!

A blade of light flashed.

The body was split clean in two.

“Ah!”

A piercing scream erupted from the corpse once again.

The Seventh Prince sneered. “I knew it. To kill an immortal soul, you must be thorough.”

Without hesitation, he activated the ancient teleportation array and vanished.

The scream had already alerted the Zi Tian Pavilion.

Jin Zhihong, Jin Zhihu, and Jin Liuli rushed in immediately. What they saw was horrifying, the head severed from the body, the face frozen in an expression of eternal resentment.

“It must be Zhang Yang!”

“Who else would dare assassinate someone from the Taixu Dynasty?”

“Damn it! Zhang Yang has gone too far!”

The three were furious.

Even those in secluded cultivation were disturbed and came to see the scene, puzzled as to why a corpse had been beheaded after death.

Jin Liuli quickly used the Spirit Communication Stone to contact Emperor Jin Shengtian.

Jin Shengtian appeared, and after a long, silent examination of the gruesome scene, finally spoke. “If he’s dead, then he’s dead. The Strategist’s plan was only the catalyst. I’ve already confirmed that his presence or absence won’t affect the outcome. The Taixu Dynasty’s plan to dominate the Western Desert can proceed.”

Hearing this, Jin Zhihong, Jin Zhihu, and Jin Liuli were overjoyed.

Jin Shengtian continued, “To reclaim our dignity, we must act during the upcoming Conference for the Peak of Power. I will ensure that every dynasty that has wronged Taixu pays the price.”

Jin Liuli interjected, “Your Majesty, the conference is about to begin. We may not have enough time.”

“It’s fine,” Jin Shengtian replied. “We’ll use a pawn to delay it by six months. I will turn the Conference for the Peak of Power into the Taixu Dynasty’s grand moment of ascension in the Western Desert!”

Bi Tian Pavilion.

Upon returning, Zhang Yang immediately locked himself in his chamber, shut out all distractions, and immersed himself in mastering the Soul Binding Saint Power. He was determined to refine this holy martial technique to its peak.

His encounter with Jigui Wu’s Remnant Soul had left him shaken. If not for his Slaughter Thunder Saint Power reaching Great Perfection, even the Soul Binding Saint Power might have failed to contain Jigui Wu.

Though rarely used, the Soul Binding Saint Power had proven itself crucial in moments of true peril.

Through relentless research and focused cultivation, Zhang Yang advanced it from its initial stage to small success, and eventually to full mastery.

Its power had increased severalfold. Now, if he were to face Jigui Wu’s Remnant Soul again, he was certain he could completely annihilate it.

This seclusion lasted for five days.

During that time, the Crimson Flame Imperial Capital experienced a surge in visitors. Not only did uninvited guests from the Southern Region arrive, but many came from the Northern Plains as well.

The Conference for the Peak of Power was becoming increasingly lively.

Amidst the growing excitement, Prince Yan Chihuo and Grand Princess Yan Mengqing arrived at Bi Tian Pavilion, both wearing solemn expressions.

“We apologize,” Prince Yan Chihuo began, “but the Conference for the Peak of Power may need to be delayed by half a year.”

“As a gesture of goodwill, we are willing to offer Earthly Sacred Gold,” Yan Mengqing added.

“We’ve heard that the Lord of the Sacred Forest’s Crimson Sun Divine Rod is on the verge of advancing to a holy rod. With this Earthly Sacred Gold, along with the Ruyi Iron Heart and our Crimson Flame Dynasty’s Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams Divine Furnace, we can ensure the Lord’s divine rod becomes a flawless holy weapon.”

“Furthermore,” she went on, “we’ll personally supervise its creation. The Ruyi Iron Heart, Earthly Sacred Gold, and Crimson Sun Divine Rod will be fused into a peerless holy weapon, one that combines the Ruyi’s adaptability, the sacred gold’s durability, and the rod’s overwhelming might. Golden hoops at each end will make it not only formidable in power but also stunning in appearance. Without a doubt, it will become the most exceptional Ruyi Golden Hoop Holy Rod the world has ever seen.”